Saying Thank You to Deborah Wilds and Jerry Calhoun 

The Murdock Trust would not be what it is without the network of partners and community leaders who advise our work. Because we support multiple sectors across a diverse region, we rely on those who are from rural Alaska or suburban Boise or urban Seattle to tell us the needs they see in those places. One formal way we extend our knowledge reach across these states and sectors is the Senior Fellows program.

Senior Fellows are trusted leaders with expertise in one of the Trust’s funding or programming areas. From knowing the nuances of Native Alaskan healthcare attitudes to having insights into the Puget Sound arts community, these individuals have knowledge and experiences that can shape the work of the Murdock Trust in positive ways.

As our CEO, Romanita Hairston, shared in her June 2024 CEO update, we are revising this program to update its structure, sharpen its purpose, and enable us to better scale impact. We will share more about these revisions soon, but today we pause and thank two Senior Fellows who have served faithfully with us for years and are choosing to step down from their formal partnership with the Trust as Senior Fellows.

“When I think of these two individuals, I think of breadth and depth of expertise,” says Romanita Hairston, CEO. “Dr. Deborah Wilds and Dr. Jerry Calhoun have consistently brought their extensive experience across education, policy, board leadership, human resources, corporate philanthropy, and more to inform the work of the Trust in impactful ways that, we believe, really do shape lives. I truly thank them both for their service to our organization and to our region.”

Dr. Deborah Wilds has been a consistent guiding voice around the Trust’s work in education. Prior to retirement, Dr. Wilds served as president and chief operating officer of College Success Foundation and as senior program officer for education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. With professional and academic expertise in the intersection of education and philanthropy, educational policy, and empowering students from low-income backgrounds, Dr. Wilds has helped the Trust better understand how to support nonprofits in the education sector. She has also served as a coach for our Board Leadership & Development, Board Leadership & Development: Green Room, and Essentials of Development programs, bringing decades of board leadership and fund development experience directly to nonprofits. While Dr. Wilds will continue serving as a coach in our Board Leadership & Development: Green Room program, we offer her a heartfelt thank you for her years of advisory support in so many other areas of the Trust’s work.

“Deborah Wilds is one of the most gracious and wise leaders in the Northwest,” says Steve Moore, CEO Emeritus of the Murdock Trust. “She has given leadership in the nonprofit, philanthropic, and board governance sectors for many years and her service as a Senior Fellow of the Murdock Trust has been exemplary. Her deep desire to see that the underserved, marginalized or neglected are served in our communities is inspiring. Our lives are richer, and our work more effective because of our colleague Deborah Wilds!”

Dr. Jerry Calhoun brought over three decades of experience in the human resources sector to the work of the Trust. His career spanned roles at Boeing, Bristol-Meyers, the Ronald Reagan presidential administration, and the University of Washington Business School. As a Senior Fellow, Dr. Calhoun brought his diverse professional experiences to help the Trust better facilitate partnerships within the business community, informing our perspective on corporate philanthropy in the Pacific Northwest. He shared his passion for lifelong learning and skill at making vital connections for the common good with our team.

“Jerry Calhoun has brought gravitas and penetrating insight to our work at the Murdock Trust,” says Moore. “As a former executive with Boeing and a well-known community leader in King County, Jerry provided insight and perspective on many of the most challenging issues of the last decade. He is reasoned, judicious as well as passionate and purposeful about doing the right thing no matter what. We have been blessed to have Jerry on the team, encouraging us to live out the mission in excellent ways that honor Jack Murdock in the times in which we live.”

Dr. Calhoun and Dr. Wilds, we are grateful for the way you have shared your insights and expertise with the Murdock Trust and wish you the best in your future endeavors.

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